Urgent Call for Environmental Sovereignty A Pan-Iranist Directive for Parliamentarians on Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems and the UNESCO 2030 Agenda
The oak forests of the Zagros Mountains—ancient, resilient, and vital—have long served as the breathing lungs of the Iranian Plateau. These ecosystems regulate air quality and stabilize climate across the region. Today, they face a grave threat. If destruction continues at this rate, these forests may collapse within decades. Parliamentarians must now confront critical questions:
Can we halt the degradation of Zagros oak forests?
Can we preserve what remains while designing biosphere alternatives rooted in Iranian ecological heritage?
Rooting Sustainability in Culture
To implement any global framework—especially the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development—we must first reaffirm our national identity. The agenda’s goals, while noble, are not plug-and-play. Cultural adaptation is essential, not optional. Iranian history, traditions, and religious beliefs must be woven into the design of any educational or ecological strategy.
In Iran, culture is the starting point for any legitimate development. Ignoring this risks superficial implementation and long-term failure.
Lessons from Ispahan and Jiroft
Ispahan once represented agricultural excellence, much like Jiroft in the southeast. Industrial expansion without systematic foresight dismantled this harmony, leading to ecological and social strain. The region's new shift back to agriculture-based sustainability reflects the kind of policy recalibration Iran urgently needs.
In the case of Gawkhuni—a salt marsh with a salinity of 315‰—developing a reservoir would have been more ecologically sound than the costly projects already pursued. Such missed strategic opportunities must not be repeated.
Groundwater Ecosystems as Cornerstones of Resilience
Groundwater-dependent ecosystems form the unseen backbone of Iran’s rural and ecological stability. To protect them, we must:
Remove misinformation from ecosystem management narratives.
Anchor policy decisions in intergenerational ecological responsibility.
Recognize and respond to rural population shifts through targeted green employment plans.
Empowering Rural Women as Strategic Leaders
As rural women gain access to resources, they remain under-served in areas essential to community leadership. Parliament must respond by:
Providing skill-building programs focused on networking, entrepreneurship, and social leadership.
Addressing exclusion and supporting traditional employment pathways within rural communities.
Establishing technology education centers and free consultation hubs tailored to women in groundwater-dependent regions.
Such efforts should be viewed as vital investments—not just infrastructure development but social architecture for future generations. Empowering mothers is, and always will be, the most direct way to safeguard children and communities.
Strategic Benchmarking for Pan-Iranist Policy Transformation
Pan-Iranist Progressive leadership must request the preparation of a national benchmarking database across 23 priority industries as input from Islamic Republic authorities. This data infrastructure will serve transparency, innovation, and national renewal. The industries include:
Automotive
Banking and Finance
Biotech, Pharma, and Medical Equipment
Chemicals
Construction and Engineering
Consumer Products
Distribution, Transportation, and Logistics
Education
Government and Non-Profit
Healthcare: Provider
Higher Education
Hospitality and Travel
Information Technology
Insurance
Manufacturing
Manufacturing: High Tech
Media
Metals and Natural Resources
Oil and Gas
Professional Services
Retail
Telecommunications
Utilities
Conclusion
Pan-Iranist members of Parliament have an unprecedented opportunity—not simply to preserve national identity but to translate it into policy, innovation, and ecological stewardship. Through clarity, sovereignty, and a renewal of cultural values, Iran can re-emerge as a regional model of environmental and civilizational integrity.